marcus Archives

Insights: Dear Colorado liquor lobby: You’re drunk – go home!

Mar 10, 2017

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There are way better drinking games than debating prohibition-era liquor laws. Yet for some reason most of the lobbyists and lawmakers working on a booze “cleanup” bill have opted for legislative war instead of beer pong. The discussion over the last few weeks has resembled a nonsensical drunk stumbling home from the bar, muttering, “No,…

TABOR reform bill passes Colorado House, but with less GOP support

Mar 9, 2017

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Peter Marcus

A measure that would reform the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, passed the House on Thursday, but not before losing some Republican support. The bill – which is sponsored by two somewhat maverick Republicans on the subject – passed the Democratic-controlled House 39-26. It now heads to the Republican-majority Senate. Only one other Republican joined…

Legislative leaders walk a fine line in proposing a tax increase for roads

Mar 9, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Legislative leaders on Thursday called a transportation funding plan that includes a sales tax increase “courageous” given potential blowback from voters and anti-tax groups. Senate Republican leadership stands directly in the crosshairs of conservative groups like Americans For Prosperity by backing the proposal. House Bill 1242 calls for a 0.62 percent sales tax increase on top…

Transportation plan lands, and it includes a higher sales tax

Mar 9, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Legislative leaders rolled out a tax plan Wednesday to pump about $677 million a year into Colorado’s ailing transportation system. The centerpiece agenda item for this year’s legislative session could cover everything from traffic relief to buses and bike paths. Voters in November would have to approve adding a 0.62 percent sales tax increase, on top…

House Democratic women show up late in ‘Day Without a Woman’ solidarity

Mar 8, 2017

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Peter Marcus

House Democratic women on Wednesday showed up 15 minutes late to morning floor proceedings wearing red as part of a demonstration connected to “A Day Without a Woman.” The show of solidarity came as Senate Republicans objected to a somewhat symbolic resolution that encourages equitable and diverse gender representation on corporate boards. The resolution –…

Legislation hopes to better measure hate crimes as state grapples with a rise

Mar 7, 2017

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Peter Marcus

There has been an increase in hate crimes in Colorado, according to data presented Tuesday as state lawmakers heard a measure seeking to track bias-motivated incidents. Colorado experienced a more than 12 percent increase in hate crimes in 2015 compared to 2014. There were 107 reported incidents in 2015, compared to 95 in 2014, according…

Home-grown marijuana crackdown passes first test in legislature

Mar 7, 2017

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Peter Marcus

State lawmakers on Monday advanced a measure that aims at cracking down on the illegal diversion of marijuana. House Bill 1220 would limit marijuana home grows to 12 plants statewide. Local jurisdictions, including Colorado Springs and Denver, have already limited home grows to 12 plants. But law enforcement felt there should be a statewide standard.…

Failure of alcohol ‘cleanup’ bill opens up the possibility of a ballot drive

Mar 6, 2017

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Peter Marcus

In killing a grocery store alcohol sales “cleanup” bill on Monday, some in the Capitol argue the Senate dismantled a “historic” compromise reached last year and renewed talks of a ballot drive. On an 18-17 vote that split the parties, the Senate killed a bill to extend liquor licenses to stores such as Walmart and Target that…

Denver Young Democrats’ turmoil symbolic of party’s struggle to rebuild

Mar 6, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Last Tuesday evening in Denver, about 40 young Democrats gathered in a brewery for an “airing of grievances.” It was not a “festivus.” Sitting inside the backroom of the Diebolt Brewing Co., surrounded by fermentation tanks and the smell of yeast in this gentrified north Denver neighborhood, millennials sipped craft beer and sat on fold-out chairs…

Insights: Fan sites for would-be candidates could prove a brilliant strategy

Mar 3, 2017

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Peter Marcus

“Run, Ed, run!” “Run, Steve, run!” “Draft Joe!” “Hickenlooper for Senate!” Supporters and political interests are taking to the internet with fan sites for who they want to see as candidates in the coming years. The only thing is that the politicians themselves aren’t behind the promotional materials, or so they say. That could represent…